The deadline for submissions in the composition category is August 16, so other countries may yet be confirmed after this date.

The Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition will be held every five years with total prize money of over 280,000 Euros. It aims to promote Polish music around the world and to raise awareness of Karol Szymanowski and his compositions.

Krzysztof Penderecki and Simon Rattle form the Competition’s Honorary Committee and the Director of the Competition is Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa. The five juries are chaired by leaders in their fields: Eugeniusz Knapik, Composition, was a pupil of Henryk Górecki and Olivier Messiaen; Andrzej Jasiński, Piano, was three times head of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition; Valentin Erben, Quartet, was one of the founder members of the Alban Berg Quartet; Bartłomiej Nizioł, violin, is an international soloist with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and international alto Jadwiga Rappé heads the voice category.

The Competition is organised by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR) in Katowice in cooperation with leading Polish musical and cultural institutions (Polish Radio, Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, and Karol Szymanowski Music Society in Zakopane), with financial support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the City of Katowice.

The first and second stages of the competition will take place in the home of Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice and at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice.

The competition final, where the soloists will be accompanied by the NOSPR orchestra, and a gala event will be staged in the NOSPR concert hall.

For more information on the Karol Szymanowski Competition please visit: http://szymanowski-competition.com/en/